[Public-List] What to do with #554?

[Pete Staehling]

I am trying to decide what to do about Aurora (#554).  At this point in my
life I am finding other commitments to be at conflict with Aurora's need for
attention.  Aurora needs the starboard bulkhead between the locker and the
v-berth replaced (I temporarily fixed the problem with two aluminum plates,
but the fix is not a long term answer).  The wood on the seats and hatches
is in poor shape.  The deck is pretty sound as far as I can tell.  The
cockpit floor is a little soft.

That said she has a lot of good qualities as well.  The Yanmar diesel is in
good shape and has low hours.  The cushions and other interior features are
generally in good shape.  She has a decent North Sail on a roller furling
system and a main in OK shape.  She has a nice autohelm.

I think that she is in usable condition and I am considering spending a
several weeks aboard exploring the bay this fall.  The thing is that I have
some other things competing for that time.

Half of the 2011 slip fee at Maryland Marina on Frog Mortar Creek off of
Middle River has been paid.

Sadly, I am thinking that my best bet may be just to get out from under the
slip fee.  I have not sailed enough in the last few years to justify the
slip fees and my daughter who often sailed with me has moved farther away
and is getting married.  I am thinking that either selling Aurora or
donating her and hopefully getting a tax deduction might be a good idea.

So I have a few questions:

   - How hard is it to sell an A30 that is in the water and can be sailed,
   but needs work?
   - Any idea of what an A30 in this kind of shape might sell for?
   - Is donating her a likely option?  Are there places that would take her,
   hopefully find her a good home, and hopefully provide a tax deduction?

Pete